Seems that John Mayer has recently taken a disliking to the very popular rock series, Guitar Hero. John does not like the fact that the game was created to bring the guitar to masses and does not represent having any skill at playing a real guitar.
Jennifer Aniston’s bitter new man claims no game could ever match the enjoyment gained from playing the axe for real.
He tells Rolling Stone: “Guitar Hero was devised to bring the guitar-playing experience to the masses without them having to put anything into it.
I agree with him in that Guitar Hero is not a real representation of playing a real guitar, but it isn’t supposed to be since it is a video game. The goal of the game is to make a rhythm based game that anyone can enjoy and yes make it accessible to everyone. Why would the game developers want to make it so complicated that only guitar geniuses could play?
This does bring into the light though the existence of certain individuals that do take rhythm based games like Guitar Hero and DDR far too seriously. You know the ones I am talking about that start to play the guitar behind their backs or do tricks on a DDR platform. These individuals deserve to be beat. Because you are good at stomping on flashing arrows does not make you a ballroom dancer and because you can rock out to Dani California on expert does not make you Slash either. If John is referring to this smaller subset of gamers, then yes I agree they are tools.
I know that Nintendo is trying to cash in on all the casual gamers of the world as well as all those people that think they can lose weight while playing games, but I just don’t see it. Someone who is overweight will not become skinny playing DDR or Wii Bowling or Wii Fit, they will do so by eating less and working out. Although playing these games can make you sweat, especially if you are out of shape, these are not valid ways to work out.
There have been quite a few studies performed that talk about how playing games and what physically can be achieved, here is a piece of a study:
A study at Liverpool John Moores University in early 2007 echoes his sentiment. Researchers found that playing Wii Sports for an average of 12 hours per week could result in burning over 1800 calories, although they’re quick to point out that such an activity should not replace traditional exercise.
OK I guess if you play for 12 hours a week you wold expect to burn some calories but just to put things in perspective if I take a 20 minute run I can easily burn 300 calories, so in 6 short runs that would equal 2 hours of exercise you would burn the equivalent amount of calories. Read More »
I had heard about this and thought it was interesting, it is a game that someone made with a bra and boxer controller combo for their thesis. The game plays kind of like DDR and there are different sensors you have to touch to achieve “sexy time”, unfortunately the presenter of this thesis could make a sober man drink with her horrible monotone voice. I can see Nintendo making this concept a game in Japan for the Wii, they are probably working on patents for the Wii Bra and Wii Boxers right now.
EA’s latest hybrid of DDR and Guitar Hero, Boogie for the Nintendo Wii, just had it’s musical lineup announced. It looks to be very heavily influenced by the 90’s. Here are the tracks:
ABC by The Jackson 5
Baila Me by Gypsy Kings
Boogie Oogie Oogie by Taste Of Honey
Brick House by The Commodores
Canned Heat by Jamiroquai
Celebration by Kool & The Gang
Dancing in the Street by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Dancing Machine by Jackson 5
Don’t Cha by Pussycat Dolls / Busta Rhymes
Fergalicious by Fergi
Get Right by Jennifer Lopez
For the rest hit the jump but be warned Love Shack, Mambo #5 and YMCA await you. Read More »
Thats right finally someone has stepped up and written an article to defend the activity of playing video games. Yahoo Games recently had an article in which they discuss five reasons why video games are good for you.
1. They can improve your eyesight. Hand eye coordination is improved by playing shooters that force your eyes to track movements on a screen. A research stiuy at the University of Rochester showed increased accuracy to pick out objects out of a cluttered space after playing games like Halo and Gears for 30 hours. Although play 72 hours straight and I think you can actually see the 4th dimension and pink elephants.
2. They can help you focus.A Cornell study in conjuction with NASA showed kids with ADHD, attention disorders, benefited from playing games. They would actually focus on scoring higher or leveling and help them concentrate on that particular task.
3. They can help you lose weight.We all hear stories about the Wii and DDR and how you can lose weight, but this guy actually chronicles his weight loss. Break out your Wii remotes and get some tennis in to get those washboard abs.
4. They can help you understand classic literature.Ok I don’t quite see the direct correlation between GTA and Shakespeare but they do make some comparisons between current video game characters such as Master Chief as an epic hero. I guess so, at least if you get an RPG you’ll have to read somewhat.
5. They can literally save your life.This one is pretty kool. A doctor at New York’s Beth Israel Medical Center actually tells patients that he is “awesome at Super Monket Ball”. The doctor’s theory is that playing games made him a better surgeon and impacted his skills with laparoscopic surgery tools. Now that is something to hear from your doctor, I didn’t go to medical school but I f@ckin rock at Trauma Center, let’s get started!
6. They make you better in bed. Ok, ok… so I made this one up, but if you have played God of War I or II there is a mini-game in there that might give you ideas. The possibilities are endless.
All in all I think ths article puts a nice positive spin on gaming and has some substance to back it up. Now go out there and improve your life one game at a time.
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EA’s latest hybrid of DDR and Guitar Hero, Boogie for the Nintendo Wii, just had it’s musical lineup announced. It looks to be very heavily influenced by the 90’s. Here are the tracks:
Thats right finally someone has stepped up and written an article to defend the activity of playing video games. 
